Plaid Cymru calls for recall of parliament as Gaza crisis deepens following collapse of latest ceasefire

Hywel Williams wants an immediate arms embargo against Israel and calls for Welsh Government assistance

The crisis in Gaza is so serious that MPs must be recalled to the House of Commons, argues Arfon's Hywel Williams

Plaid Cymru has called for parliament to be recalled following the collapse of the latest ceasefire in Gaza.

Arfon MP Hywel Williams has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons calling for parliament to be reconvened to debate the crisis.

The party is calling for a “concerted effort by both Welsh and Westminster Governments to do all they can to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people”.

Mr Williams said: “MPs should be given the opportunity to challenge the Government on this escalating crisis and as such, Parliament should be recalled. Many of my constituents regard Israel’s actions as utterly disproportionate to the threat posed by Hamas.”

Plaid Arfon AM Alun Ffred Jones said: “The suffering in Gaza is so extensive I believe the Welsh Government should follow the example of the Scottish Government and provide practical support to alleviate the suffering. If financial assistance is not possible, then other means of help should be explored in order to aid those in real need.”

The three-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza broke down just hours after it was hailed as a potential breakthrough. Israel and Hamas are accusing each other of breaking a ceasefire and it is feared an Israeli soldier has been kidnapped.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation that Palestinian militants had “unilaterally and grossly” violated the ceasefire and attacked Israeli soldiers after 9am.

He said: “Israel will take all necessary steps against those who call for our destruction and perpetrate terrorism against our citizens.”

Mark Regev, Netanyahu’s spokesman, said Hamas had “yet again thrown away a chance for a humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza, by deliberately violating this ceasefire”.

The Revd R Alun Evans, president of the Union of Welsh Independent churches has asked people to shout “peace” at the National Eisteddfod “with such passion that the Israeli Government and Hamas leaders will hear it”.

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